Birddogging Vlogs

Birddogging Videos from the Road!

Check out all the great work SGACers around the country are doing to hold leaders and candidates accountable about taking action to end the AIDS pandemic:

January 15,2016

Marco Rubio spoke at New England College to a room full of students, and when asked, he committed to fully funding PEPFAR if he becomes president.

January 15, 2015

Rubio in evening at Common Man Inn in southern NH, confirming that earlier in the day he DID commit to fully funding PEPFAR as president, solidifying his dedication and giving a short teach-in to the audience.

January 15, 2016

After speaking to a packed room at the Common Man Inn, Sen. Marco Rubio worked through the crowd shaking hands. Saint Michael's College SGAC student, Greg Hamilton, pushes his way through the crowd to be part of the handshake line. He reached Senator Rubio and asked about how he will vote on the deadly Trans Pacific Partnership and what it means for access to medicines.

January 12, 2016

Texas Senator Ted Cruz is asked by Emily Sanderson about his support for ensuring 30 million people access to treatment by 2020. He avoids the question and discusses U.S. leadership.

November 2015

This series of 3 videos documents effective bird-dogging by a large team of both SGACers and PIH Engage at the American Legion in Hudson, NH. This interaction is coming directly after a meet and greet, where SGAC alumni Emily Sanderson and Kate Bailey asked Graham about his commitment to PEPFAR, to which he was angry. Graham speaks on the importance and history of PEPFAR. The more people in the room that are on your team, the more times you can get a question asked, and the more support you have throughout the process, especially if it feels like the interaction is getting hostile.

November 2015

SGAC Alumni and current Partners in Health Engage Organizer, Justin Mendoza, bird-dogged Secretary Clinton in Boston at an event focused on drug use. Justin was following up with a commitment made on the campaign trail by Clinton in NH the week before, solidifying her commitment to ensuring 30 million people on treatment by 2020 if she becomes the next president.

October 28, 2015Nardos Assefa from SGAC at UVA was able to ask Sen. Bernie Sanders a question at a very public and well attended rally at George Mason University in Virginia.

October 3, 2015

NJ Governor Chris Christie responds very positively when being asked about his commitment to fully funding PEPFAR if he becomes the next president.

Oct 3, 2015Donald Trump, also at the No Labels Problem Solvers Convention, was asked by Harvard PIH Engage Student Nick Seymour about his commitment to U.S. funding 30 million people on treatment for HIV/AIDS globally by 2020. In response to Seymour’s request for a commitment, Trump stated, “Well, I like committing to all of those things. Those are great things – Alzheimers, AIDS. So many different…you know we’re close on some of them and some of them, honestly, with all of the work that’s been done, which hasn’t been enough, we’re not very close. But the answer’s yes, I believe so strongly in that and we’re going to lead the way.”http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4554958/trumps-aids-commitment

October 3, 2015

At the No Labels Problem Solvers Convention in Manchester, NH SGAC organizer Emily Sanderson was able to ask South Carolina Senator, Lindsey Graham about getting more people on treatment globally he quickly responded, "Yes, we’ll do it, but not until we reform entitlements.” Senator Graham seems to be aware of and dedicated to the issue of public health funding – referencing devastating cuts to PEPFAR, the CDC, and the NIH during his speech, before any prompting by our group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FalqYblXWM&feature=youtu.be

October 3, 2015

Harvard SGACers and Boston PIH Engage Students were able to be in the handshake line at an Bernie Sanders event in Boston attended by more than 20,000 people. When asked about doubling the number of people on treatment, Bernie gave an answer direct and to the point.

September 5, 2015

SGACers from Vermont were able to talk to Hillary Clinton in a handshake line at an event in Portsmouth, NH. Hillary agreed that we can put 30 Million people on treatment for HIV/AIDS by 2020!

August 20, 2015

Health GAP Field Organizer, Michael Tikili, attended a town hall meeting in Brooklyn, NY on the dangers of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. At the town hall, he found an opportunity to ask U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke to sign onto HR 1464, the Ellison Bill, stating the need for a Financial Transaction Tax. August 20th, 2015.

July 15, 2011

Back in 2011, when it was speculated that Rudy Giuliani could be running for president, SGAC students asked him at Dartmouth College in NH if he would make a commitment to increase global health funding to meet the global PEPFAR goal of 15 million people on treatment by 2015.